Conduct in the bathroom — and it contains 17 seifim: One should conduct oneself with modesty (tzniyus) and not uncover oneself until seated. Gloss (Rama): two people do not enter together, one does not speak there, and one closes the door behind oneself, out of modesty (Or Zarua).
The 4 levels of study — Siman ג׳, 17 seifim
01
Available
רמת המתחיל
Level 1 — Beginner & Intermediate
Vocalized Hebrew text of the 17 seifim with a fluent, modest English translation. Pedagogical explanation: tzniyus in the bathroom (closing the door, not speaking), the cleanliness of the body (nekiyus), preserving kedushah even in the lowliest place, and bal techaktzu — not holding oneself back. The delicate details are treated at the level of principle, with a referral to the Rav. Modern practical cases.
In-depth pilpul: tzniyus in the bathroom (not speaking, closing the door) as a continuation of melo chol ha-aretz kevodo, the importance of the right (chashivus ha-yamin, not wiping with the right hand) in connection with siman 2, the directions of conduct (mizrach/maarav, from the Tzofim) and their reasons, the health of the body and bal techaktzu, the body as an instrument of avodah (Rambam, Hilchos Deos ch. 4), and — on the level of principle only — modesty in the most delicate seifim.
Structured summary for review and memorization: tzniyus in the bathroom (closing the door, not speaking, not learning there nor bringing in divrei kodesh), the cleanliness and care of the body (nekiyus), the right hand kept aside, and bal techaktzu. Practical cases and conduct le-maaseh, with a referral to the Rav for the delicate details.
The Choulhan Aroukh HaRav of the Admour HaZaken on Orach Chaim siman 3 (where the Rav develops 25 seifim): full text, the originality and strength of the psak relative to the Mechaber and the Rama, the chiddush unique to the Rav, the dimension of tzniyus and kedushah even in the lowliest place, and conduct le-maaseh in the way of Chabad.
Rebuild this siman according to the Rabbanim YOU follow. Choose your Poskim (Rav Ovadia, the Admour HaZaken, the Rebbe, Ben Ish Chai, Mishna Berura, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu…) — Daat AI rebuilds the siman with their opinions, their reasoning, and their disagreements. If your Poskim do not address a point, the AI asks you before expanding.
Not uncovering oneself until seated; not entering two together; not speaking there; closing the door behind oneself (Or Zarua). Modesty remains complete, by night as by day.
מָלֵא כָל הָאָרֶץ כְּבוֹדוֹ
Even in the lowliest place
Awareness of the Presence shapes one's conduct even in the most secluded place. The direct continuation of the great principle of siman 2: nothing is hidden from the eyes of Heaven.
חֲשִׁיבוּת הַיָּמִין
The honor of the right
One does not wipe with the right hand. The right hand, the one we honor and which serves for mitzvos and tefillin, is kept away from this use (cf. siman 2).
נְקִיּוּת הַגּוּף
Cleanliness of the body
The care and cleanliness of the body prepare one for the service; one is careful with the nekiyus required before tefillah (cf. siman 92). The body is the instrument of avodah (Rambam, Hil. Deos ch. 4).
בְּרִיאוּת הַגּוּף
Caring for one's health
Not sitting down abruptly nor forcing oneself; not adopting harmful conduct. The health of the body, an instrument of avodah, is itself within the scope of halacha.
בַּל תְּשַׁקְּצוּ
Not holding oneself back
One who holds back his needs transgresses bal techaktzu ('do not make yourselves abominable'). Respect for the body and its cleanliness is a requirement of the Torah.
Structure of the Siman — the 17 seifim
Seif
Subject
Theme
Detail
א׳
התכבדו מכובדים
Ancient custom
One used to say a formula upon entering; this custom is no longer practiced today.
ב׳–ד׳
צניעות
Modesty
Not uncovering oneself until seated, and only as needed (the measure of modesty); not entering two together, not speaking, closing the door (Or Zarua).
ה׳–ח׳
כיווני ההתפנות
The directions
In the open field, keeping a dignified orientation (south/north) and distancing oneself from others' view; particular conducts tied to the kedushah of the Mikdash and Eretz Israel.
ט׳–י״ב
נקיות · בריאות · ימין
Care and the right
Not forcing oneself (health); not wiping with the right hand; with what to wipe according to the minhag (puk chazi); modesty by night as by day.
י״ג–ט״ז
[delicate] שמירת הברית
At the level of principle
The conduct of urination and the guarding of modesty, treated with restraint. On the level of principle: respect for the body and modesty; for the practical detail → referral to the Rav.
י״ז
בל תשקצו
✦ Not holding back
One who holds back his needs transgresses bal techaktzu. Respect and cleanliness of the body, an instrument of avodah, are a requirement of the Torah.
Tzniyus u-Nekiyus — modesty and cleanliness of the body
Source
Register
Contribution
Central idea
ברכות ס״ב ע״א
Talmud — the sougya
The source
The dignified conduct in this place, modesty and the right hand kept aside: kedushah accompanies a person even in his most ordinary acts.
השולחן ערוך
Halacha — seifim ב׳–י״ב
The conduct
Not uncovering oneself until seated, not speaking, closing the door; not wiping with the right hand; following the minhag for cleanliness (puk chazi).
הרמ״א · אור זרוע · רמב״ם הל׳ דעות
Conduct — le-maaseh
✦ Le-maaseh
Modesty and cleanliness of the body, an instrument of avodah, remain complete in every place; for the delicate details (י״ג–ט״ז), see Level 4 (Daat HaRav) and the ruling of a Rav.
Frequently asked questions — Siman ג׳
What conduct of tzniyus does Siman 3 of the Choulhan Aroukh require in the bathroom?
According to the Choulhan Aroukh, Orach Chaim 3:2, one conducts oneself with modesty (tzniyus): one does not uncover oneself until seated. The Rama (Or Zarua) adds that two people do not enter together, that one does not speak there, and that one closes the door behind oneself. Modesty remains complete, by night as by day (3:12).
Why should one not uncover oneself before sitting, according to Siman 3?
The Choulhan Aroukh (Orach Chaim 3:4) teaches the measure of modesty: one uncovers oneself only as much as needed and only once seated. This is the direct continuation of the principle melo chol ha-aretz kevodo of siman 2: awareness of the Presence shapes one's conduct even in the most secluded place.
With which hand does one wipe, according to Siman 3?
According to the Choulhan Aroukh (Orach Chaim 3:10), one does not wipe with the right hand. This is connected to the importance of the right (chashivus ha-yamin) already seen in siman 2: the right hand, the one we honor and which serves for mitzvos, is kept away from this use.
What does bal techaktzu mean and the prohibition of holding oneself back, according to Siman 3?
The Choulhan Aroukh (Orach Chaim 3:17) teaches that one who holds back his needs transgresses bal techaktzu ('do not make yourselves abominable'). The body is the instrument of the divine service; caring for its cleanliness and health is a matter of kedushah, as the Rambam develops in Hilchos Deos.
How does Siman 3 treat the most intimate details?
The Choulhan Aroukh (Orach Chaim 3:13–16) addresses urination and the guarding of modesty with great restraint. On the level of principle, the Siman teaches respect for the body, cleanliness and modesty; for practical conduct in these delicate details, one relies on the Rav's study and on the ruling of a competent Rav.